Category: NEWS/RESEARCH

Ric Drasin, a Physical Trainer points out that everyone works out for different reasons. Usually, someone is focused on a “target area.” First, he takes women who come into the gym looking to lose fat on the thighs or butt. Drasin points out that going into the gym and doing heavy leg press will only add muscle to the area, increasing the size. What he says you must do is very light weight for 20-30 reps. Hours of cardio is not going to help. After 20 minutes the body starts to burn muscle, not fat, which actually makes you start to feel like you are getting more fat. Drasin points out that weight resistant training along with a healthy diet (high protein, low-carbs) will give you muscle shape and contour, and the ability to shed the fat.

Becky Stuto, a 45-year-old associate clinical social worker has battled depression for 13 years. Stuto has never tried medical treatments for her depression, instead she has tried to control her depression mostly through aerobic exercise, healthy eating and sufficient sleep. However, it wasn’t until she began powerlifting last summer that she experienced the type of relief more frequently associated with depression treating drugs. Stutz talks about how after weightlifting her confidence improved and her depression levels were significantly reduced. According to Michael Parent, an assistant professor of counseling psychology at Texas Tech University (who is a competitive body builder) states: “it enhances mood, it will help with sleep…it helps people feel better about their body.” With all the confidence and positives that come along with weightlifting it is not a surprise that weightlifting can significantly reduce depression. People have something to take pride in and can see their accomplishments and hard work be put into something.

Recent research supports that resistance exercise training has profound effects on the musculoskeletal system, contributes to the maintenance of functional abilities, and prevents osteoporosis, sarcopenia (loss of body mass), lower-back pain and other disabilities. Resistance training also positively affects risk factors such as insulin resistance, resting metabolic rate, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and body fat, which are associated with diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Research also indicates that virtually all the benefits of resistance training are likely to be obtained in two 15-to-20-minute training sessions a week. The article talks about how controlled resistance training is what people should strive for and doesn’t require the use of heavy resistance. Personally, I think the article did a great job of summing up the benefits of resistance training especially when it comes to health benefits and countering health problems that the majority of society deals with.